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In 2012 Josh Vitters had a breakthrough season. It was his first year in Triple A, and he finished with a line of .304/.356/.513 that included 17 home runs. It was the sort of Triple A performance we expect from future major league regulars, and the fact that he was young for the league and only struck out at a 17% rate was even more encouraging. He came up for a month or so at the end of that season and struggled badly, but so many young players struggle in their first taste of the majors that I still considered him a strong candidate to eventually claim the regular left field job in Chicago in 2013.

In 2013, though, Vitters’ season was one injury after another. When he was on the diamond in Iowa he put up another impressive line (.295/.380/.511 with 5 HR and a 19% strikeout rate over 100 PA), but injuries kept him from capitalizing on that.

If he could stay healthy in 2014, I thought he would finally get an extended look in left field in the Major Leagues, but, instead, Vitters opened the year putting up very poor numbers. Instead of the .860+ OPS we had witnessed in 2012 and 2013, Vitters posted an OPS of just .634 in April and .678 in May.

But lately it is starting to look like he has shaken off whatever was deflating his numbers to start the season and is starting to hit like we know he can again. Through his last ten games Vitters has a much more respectable line of .343/.378/.486, and for June his line reads .306/.348/.403. The slugging isn’t all the way back yet, but the average and on base percentage are certainly ticking back up to normal territories. That’s a very good thing.

If Vitters can continue to hit at his Triple A normal pace for an extended stretch, he would be a very good candidate to come to Chicago should the Cubs deal an outfield bat or two. He may not have a ton of success there, but then again he could yet emerge as a league average type left field bat. At any rate, if he keeps this up he may get a chance before the year is out.

It has been far too long since I last linked some of the fantastic photography of Dylen Heuer in this space. He was at the Iowa game yesterday with camera in hand, though, and here are the results. Is that seriously gray hair in Ryan Kalish‘s beard?

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